Medical Terminology: Error-Prone Abbreviations and Pluralization Rules

Practice flashcards covering the Joint Commission's 'Do Not Use' error-prone abbreviation list and standard rules for changing medical terms from singular to plural.

OJ

An error-prone abbreviation for orange juice; can be mistaken for OD (right eye) or OS (left eye). Correction: Use "orange juice".

and <

Symbols for more than and less than; often mistaken as the opposite of the intended meaning. Correction: Use "more than" or "less than".

@

An error-prone symbol for "at"; often mistaken as the number "2". Correction: Use "at".

&

An error-prone symbol for "plus" or "and"; often mistaken as the number "4". Correction: Use "and".

Trailing zero (e.g., $1.0\,mg$)

The use of a decimal point and zero after a whole number; mistaken as $10\,mg$ if the decimal point is not seen. Correction: Do not use trailing zeros for whole numbers.

Drug Names (AZT, KCL, HCT, PTU, HCTZ)

Abbreviated names for medications; mistaken for other medications. Correction: Use the full name of the medication.

TB, tsp, TSP

Apothecary units for tablespoon and teaspoon; mistaken for one or the other. Correction: Use "tablespoon" or "teaspoon".

OD (Intended as Daily)

An error-prone abbreviation for daily; mistaken as "right eye" (oculus dexter). Correction: Use "daily".

SC, SQ, subq

Abbreviations for subcutaneous; mistaken as SL (sublingual). Correction: Use "subcut" or "subcutaneously".

IN

Abbreviation for intranasal; mistaken as "IM" (intramuscular) or "IV" (intravenous). Correction: Use "intranasal".

IJ

Abbreviation for injection; mistaken as "IV" or "intrajugular". Correction: Use "injection".

Microgram (Abbreviation)

Often represented by the Greek letter mu; mistaken as $mg$. Correction: Use $mcg$.

AD, AS, AU

Abbreviations for right ear, left ear, and each ear; mistaken as OD, OS, OU (right eye, left eye, each eye). Correction: Use "right ear", "left ear", or "each ear".

OD, OS, OU

Abbreviations for right eye, left eye, and each eye; mistaken as AD, AS, AU (right ear, left ear, each ear). Correction: Use "right eye", "left eye", or "each eye".

BT

Abbreviation for bedtime; mistaken as "BID" (twice daily). Correction: Use "bedtime".

HS / hs

Abbreviations for half-strength or "at bedtime" (hours of sleep); mistaken for each other. Correction: Use "half-strength" or "bedtime".

Plural Rule: -s or -ch

Nouns ending in these letters require adding "es" to the end of the word to become plural.

Plural Rule: -y with a consonant

For nouns that end in "y" with a consonant in front of the "y", change the "y" to "i" and add "es".

Lymphocytes

The plural form of lymphocyte.

Adhesions

The plural form of adhesion.

Lacerations

The plural form of laceration.

Viruses

The plural form of virus.

Crutches

The plural form of crutch.

Colostomies

The plural form of colostomy.

Ovaries

The plural form of ovary.

Arteries

The plural form of artery.

Vertebrae

The plural form of vertebra.

Axillae

The plural form of axilla.

Fungi

The plural form of fungus.

Spermatozoa

The plural form of spermatozoon.